a certain
idiom
1
—used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe
She has a certain elegance about her.
The house has a certain charm.
2
formal
—used with the name of a person one does not know
In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.
Examples of a certain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many of Keïta’s images are imbued not only with an air of psychological ambiguity but also with a certain cultural ambiguity.
—
Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
But only a certain amount can be recouped using money from customers.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
Embarrassment could have been a factor in the rash decision, but Trump is not a man who appears to be afflicted by that particular emotion, which takes its cue from a certain amount of self-awareness and humility.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
This makes sense from a certain perspective.
—Big Think, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for a certain
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Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
But only a certain amount can be recouped using money from customers.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
Embarrassment could have been a factor in the rash decision, but Trump is not a man who appears to be afflicted by that particular emotion, which takes its cue from a certain amount of self-awareness and humility.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
This makes sense from a certain perspective.
—Big Think, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for a certain
Cite this Entry
“A certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20certain. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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